Whiteroom Tours was founded on the principle of creating tours & ski holidays that are fun, adventurous and allow you to experience each destination from a local’s perspective.

From these humble beginings and with the help of our growing client base, we have grown into a fully licenced travel agency specialising in guided ski and snowboard tours, ski and snowboard holidays, mountain guiding, instructional tours, group travel, as well as personalised travel packages to Japan, New Zealand and North America.

Our staff are all passionate skiers and snowboarders who are dedicated to making sure you have the best snow holiday possible.

Whiteroom Tours is a licensed travel agent and tour operator (VIC licence no: 32933). We are also run a client trust account, ensuring that your purchases are secure and safe.

THE WHITEROOM CREW

PAUL ELLIS

FOUNDER / DIRECTOR / SNOWBOARD GUIDE

After seasons working in the US, Australia and Japan, as well as expeditions to the mountains of Central Asia, Paul started what was to become Whiteroom Tours started in 2007 with an idea to create a website around helping those venturing into the backcountry around the world. Backcountry Logistics was created and soon born Backcountry Snow Tours, which had tours planned for Pakistan, Gulmarg and Furano, Japan. Seeing that the market wasn’t really there for backcountry tours to remote locations yet he moved to offering a resort based Japan tour and sold ESS Boardstore owner Mark Chandler on the idea. In 2007 the first tour was run to Furano. In 2010 he founded Whiteroom Tours with the aim showing more people the areas in Hokkaido he came to love. Today Whiteroom Tours has grown into a Travel Agency, Tour Operator and Guiding Company with more than 30+ tours all over Japan as well as NZ and Alaska, and guiding throughout Japan. APSI Level 2 SB, RC F.Aid, AST2 equivalent.

GRAEME HEALD

TRAVEL MANAGER & SNOWBOARD GUIDE

Our New Zealand guru Big-G has lived in the ski tourism & events industries for as long as he can remember. Starting at the Canterbury Club Fields to working back to back seasons from Mt Hutt to Lake Tahoe and earning a scholarship to study in North Carolina gave access to trips to Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Tahoe and now Japan. A wealth of local knowledge, loves a chat about the weather, gear and anything to do with travel & of course NZ. From personalised exclusive heli trips, to groups of over 500, no job too big or too small. He has his B.Rec Ed. NZMSC Stage 1 & PSIA L-1 Ski/Snowboard and Wilderness First Aid. Graeme will talk to you in the office and ride with you in Japan.

EMILY CARROLL

JAPAN TRAVEL MANAGER

No one is more passionate about Japan and travel than Emily. She has spent year living and working in Japan as an English teacher and before that on exchange through High School and University. Her knowledge of Japan and fluency in the language means that you get the best possible advice and a fantastic holiday. She will be back again in the Furano office so drop by and grab a coffee and say hello or book a guiding day this 2016-17 season.

ROSS MCSWINEY

JAPAN OPERATIONS MANAGER & SKI GUIDE

Ross has seen more winter than most people see in two lifetimes. Having first guided in Japan with Whiteroom Tours four seasons ago, he now heads up our Japan operations. He is responsible for managing, training and sourcing new guides as well as insuring Whiteroom runs to the highest of standards. Ross has over 21 years experience as a Thredbo Ski Patroller, National Ski Patrol trainer and examiner plus skied 16 years in Hokkaido, 8 as a ski guide. He holds his NZ Avalanche Stage 1 Professional, Remote/Advanced/Advanced Resus/Occupational First Aid and is also an Avalanche Awareness and First Aid Trainer.

RONAN MAGUIRE

An Irish man who happened to land on his feet in the high alpine of NZ. Ronan has since made the mountains his home and Ski Patrolling, Avalanche Training & Avalanche Forecasting his profession complete with Jazz, his Avy Search and Rescue Dog. With eleven seasons at Mt Hutt as well several in America, Canada & Japan, Ronan is now NZMSC’s National Avalanche Forecaster and manages Snow Safety and the Avalanche Program for Mt Hutt. He looks forward to sharing his passion for the Mountains with you and enjoying some good turns together

JOEL O’ROURKE

LEAD SKI GUIDE – FURANO

Joel started skiing at the age of four with a family trip to Smiggins Holes but it wasn’t until about ten years ago with his first experience of going into the backcountry, that he got really passionate about skiing. He is our backcountry hiking machine and loves an adventure. This has taken him around the world skiing almost all of the major ski zones, the European Alps, Rocky Mountains (USA, Alaska, Canada), the Andes (Argentina, Chile), Japan, the Himalayas (India), New Zealand and of course the often-maligned Australian alps. He has worked for Whiteroom Tours for the last two seasons and will head up our guiding operation in Furano. Joel has Ski Patrolled around the world for 8 plus seasons, holds his Canadian Avalanche Association Operations Level 2, remote first aid, completed several advanced mountaineering courses & begun the pathway to become an NZMGA guide.

Why travel with us?

We don’t just sit in an office selling snow holidays, we actually guide the tours, ski the mountains, and have lived in the ski areas we sell.

We live and breathe snow travel, so you will get the best advice in the industry. From where to stay to what equipment you should bring.

We are a fully licenced travel agency and run a client trust account, so you know you’re in safe hands when you book with us.

We specialise in Japan, New Zealand and North America and therefore book direct so you get the best prices and the best service possible.

We pride ourselves on our personalised service. You’ll often find that the person that takes your booking will be guiding you on the mountain too.

Most of our clients are found by word of mouth and become repeat clients. You make Whiteroom Tours, thank you.